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Overview

Chart topping-and headline-making-rap artist Eminem shares his private reflections, drawings, handwritten lyrics, and photographs in his New York Times bestseller The Way I Am

Fiercely intelligent, relentlessly provocative, and prodigiously gifted, Eminem is known as much for his enigmatic persona as for being the fastest-selling rap artist and the first rapper to ever win an Oscar. Everyone wants to know what Eminem is really like-after the curtains go down. In The Way I Am, Eminem writes candidly, about how he sees the world. About family and friends; about hip-hop and rap battles and his searing rhymes; about the conflicts and challenges that have made him who he is today.

Illustrated with more than 200 full-color and black-and-white photographs-including family snapshots and personal Polaroids, it is a visual self-portrait that spans the rapper's entire life and career, from his early childhood in Missouri to the basement home studio he records in today, from Detroit's famous Hip Hop Shop to sold-out arenas around the globe. Readers who have wondered at Em's intricate, eye- opening rhyme patterns can also see, first-hand, the way his mind works in dozens of reproductions of his original lyric sheets, written in pen, on hotel stationary, on whatever scrap of paper was at hand. These lyric sheets, published for the first time here, show uncut genius at work. Taking readers deep inside his creative process, Eminem reckons with the way that chaos and controversy have fueled his music and helped to give birth to some of his most famous songs (including "Stan," "Without Me," and "Lose Yourself").

Providing a personal tour of Eminem's creative process, The Way I Am has been hailed as "fascinating," "compelling," and "candid."

Product Details

About the Author

EMINEM, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor from Detroit, Michigan.

Read an Excerpt

View our feature on Eminem’s The Way I Am.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The biggest rapper in history."-Rolling Stone

"The best rapper alive."-Vibe magazine

"Part autobiography, part photo gallery, part ephemera collection, it's a handsome roundup for an artist who has been notoriously reluctant to discuss his personal life anyplace but in his music."-New York Times

Editorial Reviews

"The biggest rapper in history."—Rolling Stone

"The best rapper alive."—Vibe magazine

"Part autobiography, part photo gallery, part ephemera collection, it's a handsome roundup for an artist who has been notoriously reluctant to discuss his personal life anyplace but in his music."—New York Times

"There is this guy Eminem. He has created a sense of what is possible. He has sent a voltage around a generation. He has done this not just through his subversive attitude but also his verbal energy."—Seamus Heaney, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

My 14 year old is an Eminem fan. I never was...too much cursing! Then, I began listening to the stories in his work. And, when my daughter asked if she could read about him, I hesitated. After some thought and research, I found this book on BN.com. I read it first and agreed it would be appropriate for my daughter. Eminem's writing is quite good, humorous and provocative. There a many photos of his life growing up. Even if you're not an Eminem fan, this will provide insights into his life, his stories and his music.

jay86

More than 1 year ago

This is one of the best books that i've read. its something that you could read and say i never knew that about shady. inspirational and you can really see what he went through, i've already finished it. ITS THAT GOOD. get it if you haven't already. it's a great book for the perfect eminem fan.

DarkLotusICP4life

More than 1 year ago

amazing from the very begining to the very end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T-

More than 1 year ago

Very good book. Learned a lot about the ups and downs of one of the greatest rapper out there. He tells his whole story and doesn't hold back. Read it in one sitting, not a very long book, but very informative. I would definitely recommend this book to any Eminem fan and its even a great book for anyone interested in the rap game and how it works and the struggles from growing up in poverty to becoming one of the biggest names in music history. I have 3 friends waiting to borrow it from me already, 2 of which don't even listen to rap.

sinful298

More than 1 year ago

I bought this book for my teenage son but decided to read it when he was done. I was surprised to see how good it was. The book gave a lot of insight on the REAL Emimen. I have listened to his music and had a preconceived notion about him. After reading his book, I have a different, better view of him as a person, artist, parent, role model, etc. Great book!

MuggsJM

More than 1 year ago

I enjoyed this book! It was an interesting easy to read biography! Sometimes, it's good to read about someone's life and experience's before judging them & this book explains a lot!

Justjenniferreading on LibraryThing

More than 1 year ago

I'm not quite sure what I expected out of this book. I used to LOVE Eminem and not that I don't like him now but I'm not really into rap like I used to be. So for me reading this took me back to the time when I was into all of that stuff.I think the book was fairly well written. Being a rapper it seems obvious that Eminem has a way with words, but the way he says things is so simple. He doesn't sugar coat or try to play around the issue. He says what he needs to say and that's it.One thing I really liked about this book was it made him seem human. Underneath all of the bad boy image there's a man that is just like any other man you may know. Trying to be a good father, and living a real life. I think that being the star that he is people seem to forget that he's just a normal guy who happened to make it. I think this book did a real good job of making that point.Overall I was pretty happy with the book. It was a quick read, and it wasn't confusing. I hate books that jump all over the place all the time and this was very linear. So not the best book I've ever read, but no where close to the worst either.

Justin2000

More than 1 year ago

i just bought this book and im already in love, im a huge Eminem fan and its crazy to really get to know him better as a person, not as an artist. I can say much since im only on like page 20 but i love it so far, very recommended .

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I find myself liking the man now.

maryJane9779

More than 1 year ago

I know this book will be great and I am excited to read it.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

i knoe eminem but not personally i know how his ife has been like a rollocoster going up and down and some crazy loops bu i never knew ow it happend thats why im looking foward to readin his book

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

DC74

More than 1 year ago

this book i have been lookin for, for so long i can accually relate to his life with my own thanx eminem

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I didn't read it but my daughter loved it and so did her friends. They are 19. This is an age appropriate book.

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